How to Use a Mouse and a Keyboard with a PlayStation

While a PS5 and its predecessors all come with at least one controller, modern consoles mostly have some form of mouse and keyboard support. This allows players to type much faster and play select titles with a familiar control scheme. The process is relatively straightforward, and anyone can do it.

Below, you’ll find more than the instructions for using a mouse and keyboard with PlayStation consoles. We’ll also include some compatible models and a few games that support them.

Using a Mouse and Keyboard with a PlayStation

Ever since the PS2, Sony has implemented mouse and keyboard peripheral support. The latest model of the PlayStation series is the PS5, and it makes using external hardware simple. All you have to do is follow these steps.

1. Boot up your PS5.
2. Plug your mouse and keyboard into any available USB ports.
   
3. Wait for the console to register both devices.
4. For device customization, go to “Settings.”
   
5. Look for “Accessories.”
   
6. Under that tab, search for your mouse and keyboard.
   
7. Customize them and start gaming.

The steps above are for wired mice and keyboards, but they can also work for wireless devices.

1. Turn your PS5 on.
   
2. Insert the transmitters of your mouse and keyboard.
   
3. Stand by as the PS5 detects them.
4. Go to “Settings” if you wish to customize the devices.
   
5. Scroll down and navigate to “Accessories.”
   
6. Start customizing your mouse and keyboard.
   

Bluetooth mice and keyboards may require a different process.

1. Launch your PS5.
   
2. Go to “Settings.”
   
3. Find “Accessories.”
   
4. Select “Bluetooth Accessories.”
   
5. Set your Bluetooth devices into pairing mode.
   
6. Connect them to the PS5.
7. Start gaming or watching shows.

It’s possible to use a combination of wireless and wired hardware since the PS5 doesn’t care too much whether your mouse or keyboard is wired or not. Some users also lack USB ports due to external storage, but that’s not a concern. You can plug in any USB hub, as the console supports these handy gadgets by default.

For Bluetooth devices, some may not work perfectly with the PS5. If your wireless mouse and keyboard aren’t detected, you’ll have to use wired ones.

Choosing a Mouse and Keyboard for Your PlayStation

While many keyboards and mice you can buy in IT stores may work on your PS5 and PS4, you should stick to compatible devices discovered by the gaming community. We won’t be able to list each model, but here is a small sampling.

Keyboards include:

• Apple Magic Keyboard
  
• HP keyboards
  
• Many Logitech keyboards
  
• HyperX Alloy Origins
  
• Razer keyboards
  
• Redragon K555-RGN-BA
  
• Royal Kludge RK61 and Sink87
  

Some mice you can consider are:

• Many Logitech mice
  
• Razer gaming mice
  
• Redragon M710-RGB and M908
  
• Coolermaster MM710
  
• Steelseries Rival 3
  

The PS5 doesn’t have an extensive macro support system for your gaming mouse, so it’s unnecessary to get a mouse with many buttons. There are also no apps for mouse macro configuration.

However, keyboards do have fast repeat macros, and you can customize them using the steps above. Set the Key Repeat (Delay) to “Short” and Key Repeat (Rate) to “Fast” for the best results.

You may have seen mouse and keyboard combos designed for FPS or MMORPG gamers, which are immediately noticeable by the compact keyboards that only have several keys. Some will work with your PS5, like the Hori Tactical Assault Commander Pro. It was designed to be compatible with both the PS3 and PS4.

Games that Support a Mouse and Keyboard

Not many PS5 games currently support mouse and keyboard, but the number rises if you include PS4 titles that function with them. Here’s a list of supported games.

Part 1

• Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
  
• Ark: Survival Evolved
  
• Call of Duty: Black Ops – Cold War
  
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
  
• Call of Duty: Warzone
  
• Cities: Skylines
  
• DayZ
  
• DC Universe Online
  
• Death Stranding
  
• Deep Rock Galactic
  

Part 2

• The Elder Scrolls Online
  
• Final Fantasy XIV
  
• Fortnite
  
• Ghostrunner
  
• Hollow Knight
  
• House Flipper
  
• Immortals: Fenyx Rising
  
• Minecraft
  
• Mount and Blade: Warband
  
• Neverwinter
  

Part 3

• Overwatch
  
• Paladins
  
• Planet Coaster
  
• Project CARS
  
• Quake
  
• Risk of Rain 2
  
• Slime Rancher
  
• Smite
  
• The Spectrum Retreat
  
• Splitgate
  

Part 4

• The Sims 4
  
• Terraria
  
• They Are Billions
  
• Untitled Goose Game
  
• Wick
  
• Wick: No Way Out
  
• Warframe
  
• War Thunder
  

A few of these games may not allow mouse usage since they weren’t designed to be played with one. Hollow Knight is a prime example since it’s a platformer that doesn’t support mouse gameplay.

Pros and Cons of Using Mouse and Keyboard

Some gamers grew up playing computer games, so they prefer using a mouse and keyboard. As the PS5 does have its fair share of first-person shooters and even strategy games, some players want to play on their favored controllers. However, it’s not always a good thing to use them.

Advantages

Navigating the console with a mouse and keyboard is significantly faster than using a controller, and you can also type in a fraction of the time. This is mainly seen when you want to watch shows on Netflix or YouTube using a PS5. Instead of picking letter by letter, a keyboard and mouse combo is simply more efficient.

Shooting and strategy games are also better when played with a mouse and keyboard, though players using a controller have played shooting games without a problem. PC gamers can therefore enjoy these titles without wasting previous muscle memory.

Instead of buying an expensive gaming PC for high refresh rate gaming, you can get a PS5 and play some of your favorite titles for a fraction of the price. The ones mentioned above may justify getting the console.

Disadvantages

If you assumed that playing with a mouse and keyboard means you can bully controller players, you would be wrong. Game developers have long since implemented controller-based matchmaking, so you’ll only be matched up with other mouse and keyboard users and PC gamers in the same lobby. It would be unfair to win based on your hardware.

Not many games on the PS5 today let you use a mouse and controller, so you may be better off playing on PC. Unless the games you want all support these devices, you’ll end up sticking with a controller for many titles anyway.

Mouse and Keyboard Adapters

Something rather infamous in the gaming community is the mouse and keyboard adapter. You can use them to play unsupported games with keyboards and mice. They tend to be unfair in shooting games’ matchmaking since you’re effectively disguising everything as a PS5 controller.

Nevertheless, it’s possible to play games using this device. It may not be a completely authentic experience, but the modders have done their best to ensure everything comes close. Bear in mind that no one else is responsible if you are discovered using an adapter.

The Old Ways

Even if few games on the PS5 allow mouse and keyboard gameplay, using them is much more convenient in some apps. You can type faster and look up shows without having to navigate letter by letter. You’ll need to test it out to see if your hardware works because there’s no guarantee it will.

What do you use with your PS5? Which games would you like to see have mouse and keyboard support? Let us know in the comments section below.